Warning as DIY Divorce Causes Chaos in Court

Family court judges have expressed concern at the growing number of people trying to navigate the divorce process without seeking adequate legal advice.

The warning comes as increasing numbers of people are attempting DIY divorce using online organisations as an alternative to family lawyers, believing it to be a faster and cheaper option.

However, the Law Society Gazette said courts were experiencing "a huge increase in litigants fighting their cases themselves" and went on to quote a number of judges who were concerned that such cases took twice as long to deal with because those involved were unfamiliar with the legal process. 

As well as entering the courtroom without the benefit of structured legal advice, the majority of those seeking a DIY divorce are also missing out on mediation, something the government is keen to promote to reduce confrontation during the separation process.

The clear danger to those who attempt to navigate their own way through the divorce process without proper legal advice is that those people often end up spending much more time and money trying to resolve unforeseen issues once they reach the courtroom.